Hundreds of rabbis accuse Mamdani of fueling antisemitism over 'monsters' comment

[question everything]

More than 700 rabbis representing every major Jewish denomination across the United States are calling on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to publicly apologize for remarks he made about the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC.

In an open letter released Friday afternoon, the Jewish clergy condemn the mayor's statement in which he described members of the pro-Israel lobby as "monsters" and claimed they were spending "millions in dark money" to preserve their power and sow division. The rabbis note that Mamdani has refused to retract his remarks despite mounting criticism and are demanding that he clarify his position.

The letter's release coincides with a new poll by the Jewish Majority organization highlighting deep concern within the community. According to the survey, 82% of Jewish voters in New York are concerned about rising antisemitism, with most respondents linking it to the normalization of anti-Zionism. The poll also found that a majority believe Mamdani's refusal to condemn calls to "globalize the intifada" has emboldened pro-Hamas demonstrators.

(snip)

The letter was prompted by a speech Mamdani delivered last week, when he used celebrations marking the New York Knicks' championship to launch what the rabbis described as an unprecedented attack on AIPAC and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a speech at a rally backing progressive candidates in Brooklyn ahead of the Democratic primaries, Mamdani accused AIPAC of pouring “millions of dark-money dollars” into efforts to turn the public against itself. He claimed the lobby feared democracy and “the end of the genocide and Netanyahu’s wars.”

The letter's authors emphasize that the unusually broad coalition of rabbis, who often disagree on political issues, united over what they see as the dangerous implications of Mamdani's remarks. They note that his comments came just days after five people were charged with plotting to kill government officials supported by AIPAC, and on the same day that a man in Florida was indicted for allegedly planning a mass shooting at the organization's offices.

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s100efe2fzx

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. So, is AIPAC scared, or angry?

Either way, they are certainly flexing their influence, aren’t they?

[mountain grammy]

2. Both.

And yes. They’re not gonna go quietly. Last week I was sticking with DeGette.

I just voted for her opponent . . Enough already!

[mr715]

9. Yes

[mike_c]

3. whatever....

Nothing divides like religion.

[Eko]

4. Blaming Jewish or Israeli people for the

Actions of Israel is antisemitism since they are not inherently responsible for what Israel does. So criticizing Israel or pacs that support Israel is antisemitism? Can’t have it both ways. To be clear, I 100% agree with the first part.

[hookaleft]

7. he was criticizing AIPAC and it's dark money PACs

They are aligned with the Zionist state of Israel. Nothing against Jewish people. Everyone is OK with them.

[AloeVera]

36. Logic?

Can't blame Jews for the actions of Israel because Jews are not responsible for what Israel does. To do so is anti-semitism (TRUE!)

Can't criticize Israel because then you are blaming Jews (HUH?? Now Jews ARE responsible? FALSE!)

Netanyahu claimed that he represents all Jewish people in the world. This conflation, combined with his genocidal actions, make him the biggest driver of anti-semitism in the world. Maybe he's the biggest anti-semite just for how he is harming Jews!

[Eko]

38. Thanks AloeVera!

[AloeVera]

39. And speaking of logic...

Logically, it would make sense for the sake of Jewish safety and well-being, for all people, including Jewish people, to work towards getting rid of Netanyahu and his ilk in Likud and the extremist parties. Starting with saying no to AIPAC.

[Sympthsical]

55. Fuck this racist claptrap

If this sentiment were said about any other ethnic group, it would be called out.

Can you imagine any white person bouncing out there with, "If X people only took care of their bad elements, they'd be much safer!" while implying they're partially responsible for their own mistreatment?

Like, that would be crazily racist sentiment to toss out there in a liberal space.

But when it's said about Jews, it's just common sense!

This is abhorrent. I'm sorry. It's one thing to be against what's happening in Gaza - I think nearly all of us here are. But when people start sounding like they just read the Protocols of the Elders of Zion for the first time, it's gone too far. This stuff is hedging into collective responsibility - which is racist.

I don't think people recognize in themselves the road they're allowing their ideology to take them down.

I cannot believe this is getting posted to DU. Fucking crazy. The post October 7th influx of this - yes, racism - needs to be called out already.

"But Gaza . . ." is not an excuse for the fucked up shit that's getting posted here about Jews on the regular lately.

Shame.

[muriel_volestrangler]

72. "Say no to AIPAC" is not aimed at just Jews, it's aimed at everyone

It's like saying "say no to the NRA".

If the American people only took care of their bad elements like the NRA, they'd be much safer!

I said it, and I think it holds up extremely well. And you could, if you want, substitute "white Americans" for "the American people", and it'd still work.

[Sympthsical]

74. Stop.

Don’t excuse it. Just stop.

Collective responsibility is dangerous.

You can criticize Israel without excusing this stuff.

It’s enough already. Monitor the bad elements in your cause before they monitor you.

[muriel_volestrangler]

77. Stop what?

Do you think I'm allowed to criticize AIPAC? Is that what you're telling me to stop?

[Sympthsical]

79. Stop running interference for these antisemitic tropes

I'm being very specific in what I'm condemning. The idea that Jews have collective responsibility is a trope that's gotten some play on DU. It pops up again and again. And it's enough already.

Trying to distract away from that is running interference. Pretending people aren't deploying these tropes is running interference. Ignoring it and building strawmen in response to racism is running interference.

There's that saying, if ten people are at dinner and one of them's a Nazi, what do you have? The reply goes, "Ten Nazis."

Well, this AIPAC obsessed movement is chock full of bad actors who only want to talk about Jews, Jewish money, why Jews are responsible for the hatred they experience, and on and on. Sometimes subtle. Sometimes much less.

Either call them out already - or at the very least stop pretending or making excuses about it - or I'm just going to assume a lot of people are very comfortable with the dinner party they're attending.

[muriel_volestrangler]

83. I really do not see people blaming Jews on DU

Maybe I'm just not reading the threads it happens in. That's quite possible. But AIPAC has had bad policies for many years, and I think it's reasonable to say so.

[Sympthsical]

87. And your thoughts on

"If the Jews would just do X, then people wouldn't hate them!"

That attitude is ok with you?

Are the appetizers that delicious?

[muriel_volestrangler]

91. People should not say "If the Jews would just do X, then people wouldn't hate them!"

Next time you see it on DU, PM me, and I will alert on it.

[Sympthsical]

92. It's literally the post I replied to

And yet I got the response - not the person making the comments.

[muriel_volestrangler]

94. No, it's not. The post you replied to says

"all people, including Jewish people, to work towards getting rid of Netanyahu and his ilk in Likud and the extremist parties. Starting with saying no to AIPAC." It is, as I said, aimed at all people. As it literally is.

[Sympthsical]

95. Wow

RSVP noted.

[AloeVera]

107. You have it now.

And I can't believe what you said..
.

[Demsrule86]

99. What Israel is doing in Lebanon and GAZA is genocide. AND I will vote in primaries for the candidate who does not

defend that.

[AloeVera]

105. Your response is beyond the pale.

I just saw it and I'm sorry I did.

You called me a racist.

Perfectly awful example and proof of what happens to people on this side of the divide.

I did not single out Jews nor blame them for anything. I merely included them in a call for help to oust a genocidal government.

For that I get called a racist. Predictable and heartbreaking. No, not heartbreaking. Shameful.

Bye.

[Sympthsical]

109. When people peddle in collective responsibility for hate received by an ethnic group

It's getting called out. Instead of calling out the hate, they call out the group receiving the hate.

That is a topsy turvy mindset and the antithesis of being progressive or liberal.

I don't think people hear themselves anymore. I really don't.

Listen to people when they are telling you they don't feel safe with the rhetoric flying around.

Or is everyone so far down the rabbit hole now, they can't even make out the anti-racist daylight? Because it feels like it's gotten there.

[AloeVera]

113. Show me where I assigned "collective responsibility".

I feel as though calling me a racist and purveyor of anti-semitic tropes based on wild and fact-free conclusions on your part is... how shall I put it? I can't find the words, at least not ones I can say.

[hookaleft]

5. Everything he said was true.

They need to suck it up.

[Mossfern]

57. Who is "they?"

[lame54]

6. Netanyahu should be attacked

[Demsrule86]

100. He should be brought to the Hague for Crimes against humanity. lebanese people and GAZA

citizens are people and should not face the violence of Netanyahu...who's latest thing is hanging Muslims for trumped up charges of terrorism.

[aocommunalpunch]

8. LMAO fuck you, AIPAC n/t

[Behind the Aegis]

10. The popular new brand of lipstick.

Is AIPAC a ‘monster’ that decides Congressional races? The data shows otherwise

----

On the left — and, more quietly, the right — versions of the “monster” narrative are spreading, suggesting that AIPAC is an electoral force with bottomless pockets that decides who serves in Congress.

The truth is quite different. To find it, I pulled both primary and general election outcomes for every Congressional candidate that AIPAC’s traditional PAC backed in 2022 and 2024 — 788 candidates across the two cycles — from the Federal Electoral Commission. I ran the same exercise for 17 peer single-issue PACs, including the NRA and Planned Parenthood.

The data shows that while AIPAC has an impressive operation, its electoral results do not outperform those of any other major single-issue lobby. AIPAC itself cites a 95% win rate on endorsed candidates as evidence of its political muscle, but that high level of success is partially attributable to the fact that, according to my sample, some 86% percent of AIPAC’s endorsements go to sitting members of Congress. And incumbents win about 95% of general elections — regardless of who funds them.

What’s more remarkable than the number of elections AIPAC wins is how often it gets credit or blame — depending on your politics — for deciding races.

more...

[Intractable]

12. So, for you, the problem is not the ideology of AIPAC. It's just that it's not 100% successful.

I hope AIPAC continues to drive its opposition to the polls.

If it's a choice for me between a Dem that takes money from Israeli lobbies and one that doesn't, I would count this against the former, probably motivating me to vote against them in a primary.

In the general election, I would always vote for the Democrat.

I believe Israel has a right to exist. But, only within its current borders. I am against any expansion of territory in the West Bank, Gaza, or Lebanon.

More AIPAC means more war.

[Behind the Aegis]

13. Strawman much?

"More AIPAC means more war."

[Intractable]

14. Oh, how is it not the case? I see no argument here. Just a vacuous statement.

I say that it is your post that is mere hay pretending to be substance.

A few years ago, I was a full supporter of Israel.

But now, that basically amounts to sending Israel weapons and money so Netanyahu can continue Israel's aggressions against its neighbors.

The only way I can agree is if Israel is given only defensive weapons.

[Behind the Aegis]

15. Lipstick on a pig

That truth helps make clear how dangerous the disproportionate attention AIPAC receives from the media, and from candidates opposed to its priorities, can be. To single out a well-funded lobby with many Jewish members, and to cast it as the secret hand behind every contested race, isn’t just wrong on the data. It rhymes with the oldest antisemitic trope there is: that Jews quietly run the world.

ETA: " So, for you, the problem is not the ideology of AIPAC. It's just that it's not 100% successful." THAT was the strawman.

[yardwork]

86. You are accusing a DUer of lying?

[Intractable]

19. Your supposed "truth" is irrelevant and is a feeble distraction from the main point.

AIPAC is not 100% successful. You said that already. You seem stuck on this point.

AIPAC lobbies for weapons and money for Israel. I am against it.

>> It rhymes with the oldest antisemitic trope there is: that Jews quietly run the world.

I do not accept your inference. I am against Israeli aggression, not Jewish people. Like Bibbi, you can try to blur the difference, but that's another strawman from you.

Like all other lobbies, AIPAC does its best to influence how the world is run.

[Cha]

46. BtA doesn't "lie" and it's not "feeble Or irrelevant.

Resorting to insults doesn't make your case.

[Eko]

25. You keep pointing at who is funding it when many people other than Jewish people fund it also.

Instead of what they are advocating for which is what we keep pointing out.

[sarisataka]

23. According to Protocols...

[lapucelle]

29. Rothchild, Soros, Zionist, AIPAC ...

… the code evolves, but the underlying meaning remains crystal clear.

[yardwork]

51. I think you misunderstood this poster.

[Intractable]

52. I've been reading his posts for years now. There's no misunderstanding from either of us.

Had some pleasant chats with him. It was before Oct 7.

[hookaleft]

17. Here Is All the Money AIPAC Spent on the 2024 Elections

Lobbying group the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) was by far the largest PAC contributor to members of Congress and federal candidates in the 2023-2024 election cycle, funneling hard dollars to the campaigns of lawmakers who approved military aid packages for Israel’s war in Gaza.

Below are the complete totals of how much money congressional campaigns, leadership PACs, and party committees received from AIPAC PAC last cycle, according to Federal Election Commission data.

The money that AIPAC PAC contributed during the election cycle was overwhelmingly provided by individual donors who used the group as a conduit that passed their money along to candidates and other political groups.

The data table below also includes the totals of how much AIPAC’s super PAC, the United Democracy Project (UDP), spent in the elections, largely opposed to candidates that the group deems insufficiently supportive of Israel, as well as spending that supported its endorsed candidates.

AIPAC’s PAC and UDP spent nearly $126.9 million combined during the 2023-2024 election cycle, according to the FEC. This includes more than $55.2 million in donations given to federal candidates—at least $45.2 million of which went to the campaigns of members of the new 119th U.S. Congress, Sludge identified.

UDP made almost $61 million in disbursements last election cycle, of which around $37.9 million was independent expenditures supporting or opposing candidates for U.S. House. In 2023 and 2024, UDP received seven-figure sums from more than a handful of billionaire donors. Its spending went in large part to media and ad blitzes that did not mention the issue of Israel. In addition, UDP made nearly $8.6 million in contributions to six other PACs last cycle.


https://readsludge.com/2025/01/24/here-is-all-the-money-aipac-spent-on-the-2024-elections/


And the money it gives to seated congress people:


The pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC, which has opposed efforts at diplomacy with Iran and is applauding the U.S.-led strikes, has delivered $28 million to the campaigns of members of Congress in the 2025–2026 election cycle, according to a Sludge analysis of FEC data, including earmarked PAC contributions.

The money AIPAC PAC contributes is overwhelmingly provided by U.S.-based individual donors who use the group’s website to select which candidates to support. The money is disbursed by AIPAC PAC, and the group highlights on its website that credit goes to both the individual donor and AIPAC, strengthening the pro-Israel group’s ties to the candidates.

Here is how much every member of Congress has received from AIPAC PAC from Jan. 1, 2025 through the end of January 2026.

https://readsludge.com/2026/03/01/here-is-how-much-aipac-has-funneled-to-every-member-of-congress/

[DFW]

68. There may be some apples and oranges mixed in here, but.....

The Koch Brothers' "Americans For Prosperity" PAC spent $138.5 million in the same election cycle, where Karl Rove's American Crossroads spent $60 million, although that was mostly for Republican campaign infrastructure rather than contributions directly to the candidates themselves.

Either way, AIPAC is not in a league by themselves.

[Cha]

44. Mahalo, BtA.. It's no big mystery why

Rabbis across the Country are worried about spreading more Anti-Semitism.

Anti-Zionist stickers given to kids 'an innocent mistake,' Michigan mom says

snip***

During the April 28 event at Beverly Elementary School, children were given stickers with different messages, including at least one that included an image of a gun and another that said " expletive) Zionism"

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221330562

☮️💙 🌻🕯️🕊️

[betsuni]

62. Thank you! Bookmarking.

AIPAC hysteria --

[31j20b3]

11. Sometime, probably soon. The rabbis will learn the US ain't taking it so much anymore.

Scream antiseminism to comments about Israeli genocide doesn't penetrate the wall of opposition from a majority of the countries of United Nations

I know DU isn't terrribly agronomistic but, everyone REAPS what the SOW.

Live through it, do better. The critisims won't hold forever. It's just criticism, not like AIPAC and Israeli politicians don't do that to the US.

[Boo1]

21. 82% of NY jews...

Say they are worries about increasing antisemitism stemming from normalization of anti-zionism and the response is "get used it"?

[31j20b3]

22. Wisconsin has many fewer Jewish identifiers

I think that's true across the US. So things are more likely to go unread on the radar.

New York has larger Jewish population and traditionally, more attention given to their issues.

[Eko]

26. I dont agree that anti-zionism is antisemitic.

I don't think anyone has an inherent right to a country especially one that thinks that right comes from a religion.

[Boo1]

32. Including Palestinians?

Do they have a right to a country?

[Eko]

37. Here.

I don't think anyone has an inherent right to a country. There is is an adjective you missed that modifies it.

[Boo1]

41. What's the difference in having a right

and having an inherent right?

If you don't have an inherent right to a country when what is it that gives you that right? Conquest?

[Eko]

48. inherent

- existing in someone or something as a permanent and inseparable element, quality, or attribute; inhering.
permanent and inseparable element
You don't even have to be Jewish to have a right to that country according to the Israeli laws. You just have to convert to Judaism and then you have an inherent right to be a citizen there. But if you are Jewish and convert to another religion before you go there you do not have that right.
If me and my family have not lived somewhere for hundreds of years, or never, why should we have a right to live in that place especially over the people that have been there for hundreds of years?

[Mossfern]

58. That goes for Muslim countries too?

Or Catholic, or Protestant? etc.

I don't want to go down the rabbit hole with this, but I know that you are aware of the expulsion of Jews from Muslim countries in the Mideast. No? The founders of Israel were no especially religious - you know that too.

Let's put it this way: Many antisemitic people use "Zionism" as an excuse.

[Eko]

63. Yes

I don’t think anyone has an inherent right to a country, religious or otherwise. Where does it start? Where does it end? Does it start with this group, or the group before them, or the group before them, which of those groups do you choose? Do the Canaanites and all of their descendants have that inherent right? What about the Natufians? The Amorites? The Philistines? Which one?

[Mossfern]

73. So you support a One World government?

How's that supposed to work?
I don't think that human nature will allow it.

[Eko]

89. Nowhere did I say that.

[Eko]

65. Is it possible

To be anti-zionist and not be antiSemitic?

[Mossfern]

69. Sure

But why would one be anti-Zionist if Zionism is merely the belief that Jewish people have a homeland? Are they also anti-Palestinian?
One can be a Zionist and passionately against the actions of Israel just as one can be an American and be passionately against the actions of the present administration.

[Eko]

88. It is not merely the belief that Jewish people have a homeland

Its that that homeland is in Palestine, where a bunch of other people were already living and they created said state at the objection of those people living there. That seems to me a pretty big thing to just gloss over.

[Mossfern]

90. Palestine was not a nation

It was a territory and Jewish people were living there too.
Do you agree that the property and homes that belonged to Jewish people in other Muslim states in the area be returned to them as well? Muslims can practice their religion in Israel - can you say the same for Jews in Palestine?

Wait!
Historically, what happens to Jewish people who even venture into Palestine?

It would serve us all well if people would abandon black and white thinking.

[Demsrule86]

106. Muslims are persecuted in Israel and what has been done in GAZA is a disgrace.

[Mossfern]

110. Jews are murdered in Palestine

that doesn't justify Netanyahu and right wing actions and policies, but let's be real - the animosity goes both ways.

AI Overview There are multiple historical instances of Israeli youths who were attacked or killed after wandering into, hitchhiking in, or crossing into Palestinian-controlled territories in the West Bank. Some notable cases include:May 2001: Two Israeli teenagers from the Tekoa settlement, Yaakov Mandel and Yosef Ishran, were bludgeoned to death in a cave after skipping class and hiking in a nearby gorge in the West Bank.June 2014: Three Israeli teenagers—Gilad Shaer, Naftali Fraenkel, and Eyal Yifrach—were abducted and killed after hitchhiking near the Alon Shvut settlement in the West Bank. Israeli authorities attributed the abductions and murders to Hamas.April 2024: Binyamin Ahimeir, a 14-year-old Israeli boy, was killed in a suspected terror attack while herding sheep near the outpost of Malachei HaShalom in the West Bank.These types of incidents frequently trigger retaliatory violence and large-scale military or settler rampages in nearby Palestinian villages. To read more about the geopolitical history of these events, consult the New York Times reporting on the 2001 attack or the PBS NewsHour coverage of the 2024 incident.4 sites2014 kidnapping and murders of Israeli teenagers - WikipediaThe 2014 Gush Etzion kidnapping and murder refers to the abduction and killing of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank during ...Wikipedia2 Jewish Teenagers Are Beaten to Death in the West BankMay 10, 2001 — 2 Jewish Teenagers Are Beaten to Death in the West Bank - The New York Times. World. World|2 Jewish Teenagers Are Beaten to Death ...The New York TimesPalestinian arrested over Israeli boy's killing which sparked ...Apr 22, 2024 — Palestinian arrested over Israeli boy's killing which sparked settler rampage. 22 April 2024. TPS. The military said Binyamin Ahim...BBCShow all

[Joinfortmill]

78. I think so.

[Violet_Crumble]

67. Just a correction here...

I don't consider this a rabbit hole, expulsions weren't one-sided. Tens of thousands of Palestinians were expelled from what is now Israel, but some don't seem to care because it doesn't suit their narrative. It would have been far less messy if people had been allowed to stay where their homes were and on the land they were connected to.

The founders of Israel? I'm assuming yr talking about Ben-Gurion? He was a realist and worked purely from a political stance because Zionism was and still is a political ideology. While he wasn't particularly religious, he did need to get the religious types onside when Israel was created. He had to make some concessions to Orthodox Jews, which is why things like marriage, divorce etc are controlled by religious law and not civil law. Don't quote me on that last bit, as it's been a long time since I read about it. Which means while the founders weren't particularly religious, they catered to the Orthodox and were very into expanding territory, which is why Israel's borders weren't defined when the state was created.

Oh, no. I just realised I used the term Zionism! I got chided just recently from someone in another thread who informed me that studying Israel and Zionism when I was at uni was proof that there's a disproportionate fixation with Zionism, AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!!!! Unfortunately they never returned to answer my question about how much discussion of Israel is acceptable, so I'm still not clear on what the red line in the sand is, not that I really give a shit...

Yes, I agree with you, Many antisemitic people use "Zionism" as an excuse, though I find the attempts to label all discussion of Zionism as antisemitic is merely an attempt to silence criticism of Israel. And let's be real. I've seen the antisemitic ones on FB and it's not hard to miss. I encountered someone who didn't seem capable of saying 'Israel'. He'd call it the 'Zionist entity' or 'Zionist regime'. The way he said it made it very clear there was something boiling away underneath that was really ugly. Along the same lines, blaming Zionists for all the ills in the world is another giveaway, as well as comparing Israel to Nazi Germany.

What's not accurate is what some in this thread have a habit of doing, which is labelling any and all mentions of Zionism and AIPAC and dog knows how many other keywords as being antisemitic. My rule of thumb is that people who aren't Jewish are Zionists, and AIPAC isn't a Jewish organisation. Insisting on conflating them with Jews is just playing into antisemites hands. Have you noticed some who do this have no qualms about attacking J-Street or Jewish Voice for Peace? Because the issue isn't whether an organisation is Jewish, it's about whether the organisation 110% falls in line and defends everything Israel does.

And because I don't think there's much going on in this thread, I'll just finish up by pointing out that AIPAC is a horrible, hardline group, and anyone who claims to support Israel should get behind J-Street instead. And also, Zohran Mandami is a superhero and I suspect some of the attacks on him come from him not only being a socialist, but a Muslim one

https://jstreet.org/

[Mossfern]

71. I am well aware of the expulsion of Palestinians as well as their leaving voluntarily during the 1948 war.

I am not, anti-Palestinian and strongly support a two state solution.
There's a whole bunch of healing and self soul searching on both sides for this to happen.
That's why I support organizations like Seeds of Peace. https://www.seedsofpeace.org/

Children should be taught love, not hate.
Just think of what can be accomplished!

[hookaleft]

33. US Gentiles have no problem with the Jewish population. In fact we love and welcome you to the Democratic Party

What we are against are the violent actions of Zionists who refuse to live in peace with their neighbors. The destruction and the land grabbing and genocide of the Palestinians. And those horrible Israeli settlers that foment violence and atrocities. Furthermore we do not want another penny of our tax dollars to go to the Zionist government of Israel who is supported by AIPAC in this country. They are going to have to get used to that.

[Boo1]

34. Are the palestinians

Interested in peaceful coexistence? Never has seemed like it.

[Boo1]

40. If the Palestinians didn't want Hamas

Then why have they made it this long?

[Bettie]

81. Well, if someone could move into your home at any time

or come and kill your lifestock and burn said home, kill your family, and tell you that your home/property is theirs now by virtue of their religious beliefs, I doubt you'd feel super friendly toward them.

Oh, or when the laws are written to ensure that you have no rights.

Yeah, I expect some will have a HUGE problem with this video link, but JO is usually pretty accurate in his pieces, so...whatever.

[sarisataka]

24. Rabbis in the US are "Sowing" the actions of Israel

Is that why there is so much antisemitism?

[Nanjeanne]

16. Mamdani accused AIPAC of pouring "millions of dark-money dollars" into efforts to turn the public against itself.

He claimed the lobby feared democracy and “the end of the genocide and Netanyahu’s wars.”

AND? for this he should apologize? I applaud him.

[leftstreet]

43. +1

[LAS14]

20. Exact quotes.

From ChatGPT

The key passage, as reported by multiple outlets, was:

"The monsters that we are up against, they take many different forms."

He then went on to single out AIPAC, saying it was an organization:

"for whom the only thing more frightening than democracy being allowed to run its course is an end to genocide and Netanyahu's wars."

He also accused AIPAC of moving:

"millions in dark money to accomplish a single goal, to preserve their power so that they can turn us against one another instead of our leaders turning towards the moral change we all know to be necessary."

The remarks were widely interpreted by critics as calling AIPAC and its supporters "monsters," while Mamdani later disputed that interpretation.

When asked about the controversy, he said he was invoking a line commonly attributed to Antonio Gramsci:

"The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born; now is the time of monsters."

Mamdani said:

"I used the term to describe all those who are preventing the birth of a new world. My use of the term is a broad use..."

So, to answer your question precisely:

There is no verified quote in which Mamdani called "Israeli supporters" generally "monsters."
There are verified reports that he used the word "monsters" in a speech that immediately turned to

[muriel_volestrangler]

75. This is the most complete transcript of his speech I can find

“As Gramsci said, ‘The old world is dying and the new world struggles to be born. Now is the time of monsters.’ These monsters take many forms today. In those who fund television ads that blanket the airwaves with misleading and bad faith attacks about Claire (Valdez), Brad Lander), and Dari (Darializa Avila Chevalier), those who would rather spend far more on political contributions than they would ever be made to pay in taxes. In AIPAC, for whom the only thing more frightening than democracy being allowed to run its course is an end to genocide and Netanyahu’s wars.

“They move millions in dark money to accomplish a single goal to preserve their power so that they can turn us against one another instead of our leaders turning towards the moral change we all know to be necessary. In a politics that for too long has asked working people to lower their expectations, to settle for less, to become satisfied with small victories while our wages grow even smaller and our costs grow even larger, to resign ourselves to resignation, to accept the unacceptable.

“In the wealthiest city, in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, we need not live in fear of monsters any longer. If a new world is truly to be born, then where else should it be born than right here in New York?

“Where else should that new world be born than in the city the entire world seeks to emulate?

“On June 23rd, we will win that new world together.”

https://mitchellplitnick.substack.com/p/on-the-eve-of-nyc-primaries-more

So he did invoke Gramsci, though I wouldn't say he "singles out" AIPAC; they are listed along with "those who fund television ads that blanket the airwaves with misleading and bad faith attacks" and "those who would rather spend far more on political contributions than they would ever be made to pay in taxes". I think the "millions in dark money" is aimed at all of them; he talks about "our wages grow even smaller and our costs grow even larger" very soon after, and I think that's clearly at the "those who would rather spend far more on political contributions than they would ever be made to pay in taxes" group.

[RockRaven]

27. What fuels antisemitism is people like them conflating Jews and Israel/AIPAC

for pro-Israel and pro-AIPAC political purposes.

[AloeVera]

42. Couldn't agree more and said so in Post # 36. nt

[Boo1]

45. "Jews are to blame for antisemitism."

There's a word for that.

[AloeVera]

47. Netanyahu is a monster.

A genocidal freak.

I refuse to whitewash and excuse him because of his religion/ethnicity. If that makes me an anti-semite in the eyes of the monster's defenders, I'll wear that false smear with honour.

Bye.

[Eko]

49. Netanyahu and the actions of his government

Have created a more unfavorable opinion of Israel in the past couple of years. Nearly 60% of the U.S. public disapproves of Israel's military actions in Gaza. That is a historic high. When you make criticism of Israel, its policies and a PAC that pushes only for supporting Israel anti-Semitic then yes that would increase antisemitism. The top post proves that. Criticizing AIPAC is supposed to be anti-Semitic according to them. The ADL defining anti-Zionism as anti-Semitic when plenty of Jewish people are not Zionist and plenty of non Jewish are Zionist. In a world where more people dont support Israel than they used to and they keep making things that are not anti-Semitic but valid criticisms of the policies of Israel and a PAC that supports them anti-Semitic,,,, I dont know what you want me to believe. You have 700 Rabbis telling us that thinking a PAC that pushes support for a country that is clearly on the route to if not actually being a far right authoritarian state a bad thing is antisemitic. That's antisemitic?.

[dalton99a]

70. +1

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/04/07/negative-views-of-israel-netanyahu-continue-to-rise-among-americans-especially-young-people/
Negative views of Israel, Netanyahu continue to rise among Americans – especially young people

[Joinfortmill]

28. I'm not Jewish, but I have Jewish relatives...

I don't know much about this situation. But, my opinion is Israel should rid themselves of Netanyahu. As for Mamdani, I don't know enough to comment.

[question everything]

30. There are elections planned later this year

[Emile]

31. AIPAC goal is throwing money at centrists.

[Celerity]

59. not just centrist and conservative Dems but also hard RWer MAGAt rethugs, including 2020 seditionists and traitors

They supported 109 treasonous sitting RW Rethug election denialists.

RW-billionaire-funded AIPAC is not a Dem ally on balance. As stated above, in 2022 they endorsed 109 Republicans who refused to certify Biden's election (Including the christofash Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Gym 'the paedo enabler' Jordan, ultra MAGAette cheerleader Elise Stefanik, the worm of worms Kevin McCarthy, the crazed gunhumper Greg Steube, Ronny 'Trump's drunk Dr Feelgood' Jackson, Joe 'you lie!' Wilson, John 'I am a racist, climate change denying MAGAt, but look!, Henry Cuellar campaigns and fundraises for me so it's all good' Carter, Troy 'make shit up about being threatened, get caught, and then distract by trying to get Biden 25th Amendment'ed' Nehls, etc etc). AIPAC values fealty to a foreign power more than the health of American democracy as shown by their support for those RW treasonous MAGAts simply because the MAGAts are also pro-Israel hawks.

Why pro-Israel lobby group Aipac is backing election deniers and extremist Republicans

Among those candidates endorsed by Aipac is the New York congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a Trump loyalist whose home town newspaper criticised her for “despicable” advertising and “hateful rhetoric” that promoted the racist and antisemitic “great replacement theory”, claiming the US is being flooded with immigrants to outvote white people. The Times Union accused Stefanik of “fear-based political tactics”.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/oct/18/pro-israel-lobby-group-aipac-midterms-election-deniers-and-extremist-republicans



The US’s largest pro-Israel lobby group is backing dozens of racists, homophobes and election deniers running for Congress next month because they have pledged to defend Israel against stiffening criticism of its oppression of the Palestinians. The powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) has justified endorsing Republicans with extremist views, including members of Congress with ties to white supremacist groups and representatives who attempted to block Joe Biden’s election victory, on the grounds that the singular issue of support for Israel trumps other considerations.

But Aipac’s support for rightwing politicians has privately embarrassed some Democrats also endorsed by the powerful group and drawn accusations from more moderate pro-Israel organisations that it is attempting to stifle legitimate criticism of hardline Israeli policies. Logan Bayroff, a spokesman for J Street, a group campaigning for Washington to take a stronger stand to end the occupation of Palestinian territories, accused Aipac of attempting to impose a narrow definition of what it is to be pro-Israel amid shifting views in Democratic ranks.

“Their actions have made clear that they view pro-Israel, pro-peace progressive Democrats as threats – and Trumpist Republicans as allies. That worldview could not be more out of touch with the vast majority of American Jews,” he said. “Aipac may hope to silence and intimidate political leaders who believe that settlement expansion, endless conflict and permanent occupation are harmful to Israel, the Palestinian people and US interests. Ultimately, however, these common-sense views are too popular, widespread and important to be suppressed, and will continue to gain strength within American politics and among the American Jewish community.”

Aipac’s backing of extreme rightwing Republicans follows its $27m advertising campaign during the Democratic primaries to defeat candidates who spoke up for Palestinian rights, mostly with attacks over issues that had nothing to do with Israel. The campaign is part of push by more hawkish pro-Israel groups to shore up support in Congress in the face of rising advocacy for the Palestinian cause within the Democratic party and erosion of approval for Israeli actions among American Jews, particularly younger people.

snip

updated list:

https://jstreet.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/AIPAC-Endorsee-List-042022.pdf

AIPAC endorsees that voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election results

Robert Aderholt (AL-04)
Jerry Carl (AL-01)
Barry Moore (AL-02)
Gary Palmer (AL-06)
Mike Rogers (AL-03)
Andy Biggs (AZ-05)
Debbie Lesko (AZ-08)
David Schweikert (AZ-01)
Rick Crawford (AK-01)
Ken Calvert (CA-41)
Mike Garcia (CA-27)
Darrell Issa (CA-48)
Doug LaMalfa (CA-01)
Kevin McCarthy (CA-20)
Jay Obernolte (CA-23)
Doug Lamborn (CO-05)
Kat Cammack (FL-03)
Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)
Byron Donalds (FL-19)
Neal Dunn (FL-02)
Scott Franklin (FL-15)
Carlos Gimenez (FL-26)
Brian Mast (FL-18)
Bill Posey (FL-08)
John Rutherford (FL-04)
Greg Steube (FL-17)
Daniel Webster (FL-11)
Rick Allen (GA-12)
Buddy Carter (GA-01)
Ross Fulcher (ID-01)
Mike Bost (IL-12)
Jim Baird (IN-04)
Jim Banks (IN-03)
Greg Pence (IN-06)
Ron Estes (KS-04)
Jake LaTurner (KS-02)
Tracey Mann (KS-01)
Hal Rogers (KY-05)
John Kennedy (LA-Sen)
Garret Graves (LA-06)
Clay Higgins (LA-03)
Mike Johnson (LA-04)
Steve Scalise (LA-01)
Andy Harris (MD-01)
Jack Bergman (MI-01)
Lisa McClain (MI-09)
Tim Walberg (MI-05)
Michelle Fischbach (MN-07)
Michael Guest (MS-03)
Trent Kelly (MS-01)
Steven Palazzo (MS-04)
Sam Graves (MO-06)
Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03)
Jason Smith (MO-08)
Matt Rosendale (MT-02)
Adrian Smith (NE-03)
Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02)
Yvette Herrell (NM-02)
Chris Jacobs (NY-24)
Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)
Elise Stefanik (NY-21)
Dan Bishop (NC-08)
Virginia Foxx (NC-05)
Richard Hudson (NC-09)
Greg Murphy (NC-03)
David Rouzer (NC-07)
Steve Chabot (OH-01)
Bill Johnson (OH-06)
Jim Jordan (OH-04)
Stephanie Bice (OK-05)
Tom Cole (OK-04)
Kevin Hern (OK-01)
Mike Kelly (PA-16)
Dan Meuser (PA-09)
Scott Perry (PA-10)
Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14)
Lloyd Smucker (PA-11)
G.T. Thompson (PA-15)
Jeff Duncan (SC-03)
Ralph Norman (SC-05)
Tom Rice (SC-07)
William Timmons (SC-04)
Joe Wilson (SC-02)
Tim Burchett (TN-02)
Scott DesJarlais (TN-04)
Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03)
Mark Green (TN-07)
Diana Harshbarger (TN-01)
David Kustoff (TN-08)
John Rose (TN-06)
Jodey Arrington (TX-19)
Brian Babin (TX-36)
Michael Burgess (TX-26)
John Carter (TX-31)
Michael Cloud (TX-27)
Lance Gooden (TX-05)
Ronny Jackson (TX-13)
Troy Nehls (TX-22)
August Pfluger (TX-11)
Pete Sessions (TX-17)
Beth Van Duyne (TX-24)
Randy Weber (TX-14)
Roger Williams (TX-25)
Chris Stewart (UT-02)
Ben Cline (VA-06)
Morgan Griffith (VA-09)
Rob Wittman (VA-01)
Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05)
Carol Miller (WV-01)

[electric_blue68]

112. Having not given it any thought - woah on supporting those Republicans! TY 4 info.

[Iggo]

50. And what do the Catholic priests say?

Wait, I don’t care about them, either.

[Ponietz]

53. Bibi makes the propaganda run on time

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/security-aviation/2026-06-18/ty-article/bleeding-support-in-u-s-over-failed-iran-war-israel-triples-its-influence-efforts-there/0000019e-db73-d2be-abbf-fbffca7b0000

Supporting Bloatass to the detriment of liberty, truth and honor is monstrous. My Jewish friends agree.

[CivicGrief]

54. So it's only OK to call Muslims monsters?

Sorry but there are some really fucked up people in the Israeli government who want to see Palestinians wiped out as much as Hamas wants to see Israel wiped out. The double-standard is not helpful.

[Mossfern]

61. Ii haven't heard anyone here say anything of the sort.

I also would have no issue for 100's of Imams protesting anti-Muslim inferences.
Why is there a problem with 100's of Rabbis protesting what they see as harmful rhetoric.

[wyn borkins]

56. Just (One Person) Wondering...

(IMHO) This specific discussional seems to have ceased being a part of "General Discussion" and has devolved into something else (?).

Perhaps it should be 'moved' (certainly NOT deleted) to another forum OR to a newly created forum wherein a bit of additional leeway would serve the participants more appropriately...

[hlthe2b]

96. The I/P forum tries hard to host these kinds of discussions, but in reality the independent forums

are somewhat problematic, the decision whether or not to allow a post to remain or to block the poster resides with the host(s) of the forum. Yes, certainly posts can be alerted and juried as well, but in some of the smaller forums (not suggesting I/P specifically as I do think the remaining host tries very hard to be fair), but yes, some single issue forums do block those posters whose single reply or OP is considered in opposition to the main members of the forum.

That is why this probably needs to remain in GD...

[wyn borkins]

97. Understood :: And Thank You (hlthe2b) For Your Response (n/t)

[multigraincracker]

60. There will be no peace until a fair 2

State Solution happens.

[Demsrule86]

101. Israel doesn't want this...but you are right.

[sheshe2]

64. My take for what it is worth.

The Mayor of NY City used the celebration of the NY Knicks win to make an inflammatory political statement. There are approximately 1.4 million Jews that live in the New York City metropolitan area, making it the largest Jewish community outside of Israel.

Mamdani is the mayor of all the people of the city and IMHO he should choose his words wisely. This was the Wrong place. Wrong time. Wrong message.

He is new. He is young. I hope he learns and I wish him the best.

[betsuni]

66. I was surprised this happened. I hope he learns, too.

Yesterday lots of people piled on a talk show host for not liking the mayor's comments, but the comments were unwise.

[Demsrule86]

104. Israel is involved in Genocide. They must be called out. And a fair number of those

who voted for progressives were Jewish. I am part Jewish...My Great Grandma eloped with her lover in 1900; their families were against the marriage...they were both Jewish...settled in Wisconsin and then Chicago...their families were influential and tried to force them back to Germany...so they changed their religion and hid from their families. In the 1930's my Grandma tried to get them passage to the US...she failed. After the war, no one of the very large family was still alive. Grandma and my Dad looked...all perished. So I understand the need for Israel but it breaks my heart what Israel has become...Netanyahu is a war criminal. I can't jI ustify their behavior in GAZA or Lebanon. I will not vote for any candidate in a primary who defends the Israelis government in terms of GAZA and/ or Lebanon. I always vote Democratic during an election.

[MineralMan]

76. Not a very smart statement on his part.

Religions and governments do not mix well.

I wish we could really have a government that ignored religion altogether. Somewhere. Everywhere. Religion has been the cause of more pain and death than any other human concept.

Feh!

[Bettie]

82. Religion is the most divisive thing

humans have ever invented.

It is, in my opinion, the most corrosive element of human society.

This group wants to kill that group for worshiping the same god the 'wrong way' while both groups want to kill group 3 because they follow a different god...and in the end, no one wins, not really.

[MineralMan]

84. 100% Agree!

Here in the USA, we deliberately separated religion from government. Why? Because the early settlers here were escaping from religious persecution in England. Sadly, now, we're heading toward a conflict between Christian sects in this country. How soon we forget.

And never mind our attitude toward non-Christian religious groups. We hate them all, it seems. All. We even hate other Christians who don't worship the same as we do.

Why can we not dispense with that superstitious nonsense?

[Bettie]

85. My husband and I talk sometimes about

how the real knock down drag out fight will be between the various flavors of "Christian" once the supreme court declares Christianity the state religion (yeah, I know, "they can't do that" and yet...I still expect it to happen).

The Catholics have the numbers and the infrastructure but the Southern Baptists are mean...

This is 90% tongue in cheek, but that 10%....

[niyad]

93. Congratulations on your 20,000 post milestone. Now on to your next

20,000!

[Demsrule86]

108. I agree....

[Demsrule86]

98. Israel is involved in war crimes in GAZA and Lebanon...murdering kids.

It is monstrous. They need to be prosecuted for war crimes. It has nothing to do with the Jewish religion.

[mr715]

103. ...Hundreds of rabbis voted for Mamdani...

[31j20b3]

111. Well it hurts feelings when a message that's cherished and been pushed all your life

is roundly rejected by most all the nations on earth.

And so, I can understand why hundreds, if not thousands of Rabbis and millions of followers would reject the pain that they feel in the face of what most nations in the world are suggesting they should actually notice within the expression of their most cherished project and self-imagining